Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

In Book Lovers Inc news, we have a winner to announce for the Sara Brookes Giveaway.  Moonsanity is the winner of an ebook copy of Midnight’s Ghost by Sara Brookes.  Congrats, Moonsanity!  You’ll be hearing from us soon.  Enjoy your book!

Publishers Weekly sent out a very eye-catching tweet this morning about a science fiction writer offering cash for readers.  I had to click on that link being a science fiction reader.  It is an interesting article at guardian.co.uk about writer Peter Riley who is hoping to attract attention that will lead to a publisher for his novel.  I haven’t looked at the book, but his method for finding a publisher seems…novel.

The Moby Awards for the Best and Worst book trailers were awarded last night.  Here is the link to the winners.  Book trailers = watching a …

Guest Post: Author Pati Nagle + Giveaway

We are very happy to have Pati Nagle, author of The Betrayal, here with us today. She has written a fascinating look into how she created the world of the aelven. She is also offering a giveaway of two books set in the aelven world, The Betrayal and Many Paths, so be sure to read to the end of the post for the details!

Creating the Ælven World

I fell in love with Tolkein’s elves in Lord of the Rings, which I first read before my teens. Like many readers, I snapped up other fantasy novels after I was out of Tolkein, but usually the heros were humans. Elves, if they appeared at all, were relegated to supporting roles. Eventually I got tired of seeing elves always in the background, and along with the …

Review: The Betrayal by Pati Nagle

Format Read: MMPB

Number of Pages: 373
Release Date: March 2009
Publisher: Del Rey
Formats Available: Paperback, ebook
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Amazon, Author’s website

Book Blurb:

The noble and magical aelven were riven by war when a rogue clan embraced a forbidden source of magic: the drinking of blood. In the bitter fighting that ensued, the vampiric Clan Darkshore were cast out of the aelven and driven across the Ebon Mountains. Stripped of their various clan colors, they were thenceforth known only as “alben,” hated and shunned. An uneasy peace now holds over the land, but it is whispered that Shalár, the beautiful and bloodthirsty queen of the alben, is readying a surprise attack to win back all that was lost–and none can say where or when she will strike.

The fate of the clans will depend on two young aelven lovers, Eliani and Turisan, who …

Review: Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Format: Hardback Number of pages: 320Release date: 04 May 2010 Publisher: Ace trade paper (Penguin imprint)Formats available: Hardcover, Kindle editionPurchasing info: Penguin, Amazon, Goodreads

Synopsis:

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she’s angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he’s under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie’s connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry…

My …

Randomly Booked: Wrath from BDB

I love finding out about new series. I was persuaded to start reading the series called the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. Everyone told me that this series was going to be amazing so I ran to start reading it. I just finished the first book and I know that reading the whole series will be lots of fun to read.

I love how the characters are so deep and you only learn who they really are as you read about them in each book. Wrath is the brother of the first book. The best way to explain it is to quote Shrek: “[the characters] are like onions (or as Donkey says cake) because they have layers”.  I think that sums it up pretty well.

There are so many different ways vampires are depicted in books. Every author has a different …

Bookish Rants or Raves: Standalone Novels X Series!

Time and time again I ask myself why do I favor Book series so much more than standalone novels. I mean, cliffhangers are a killer for me, so standalone books should always be my drug of choice, right?

Hell no! I think I might be a masochist for reading a great book and willingly suffering for months until the next installment comes out. If it’s a successful series? Then i am really screwed, because then I will be waiting years until I get all my answers and a conclusion to the story.

Why do i do that? Why do I keep adding series to my already full roster? The answer is simple, I can’t help it!
Book series give you so much more than a standalone novel. You get more of your favorite characters, more action or romance and more everything else.

I know series can be annoying …

Review: Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Format Read: ARC Number of Pages: 359 pages Release Date: May 4, 2010 Publisher: HarperTeen Formats Available: Hardcover Purchasing Info: Amazon.com, GoodReads, Author’s Website

Book Blurb:

“I can’t just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can’t ‘steal’ you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you’ll ask,” Tamani said.

“And if I don’t?” Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then I guess I’ll be waiting forever.”

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel’s feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart.

Curious about the book? Click here to …

Interview with debut author Chelsea Campbell.

Last week Chelsea’s debut novel, Rise of Renegade X was released into the wild! This is definately one to check out. It contains all the elements that, to me, make a great novel: good vs evil, coming of age and all the problems that go along with growing up …and a little love interest!

The Monster Lover: Tell us about RRX

Chelsea: The Rise of Renegade X is about a teen supervillain who discovers his long lost dad is actually a superhero, throwing a wrench in all his supervillain plans, especially when he has to go live with him for a while.

The Monster Lover: Why did you choose to write a story from a male perspective? I must say I loved reading his thoughts & then what he says – boy does he have a good filter!

Chelsea: I love writing boy characters. Sometimes I think, “Hmm, maybe it would be fun to write …

Review: Shut Up and Kiss Me by Christie Craig

Format Read: Ebook

Number of Pages: 336
Release Date: June 2010
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing
Formats Available: Trade Paperback, Ebook
Purchasing Info:  Goodreads, Amazon, Author’s Website

Book Blurb:WELCOME TO PRECIOUS, TEXAS

Where fistfights serve as dinner theater and fire ants rain from the sky. The locals are usually very friendly, if a bit eccentric. No pictures please, or you may find yourself a guest of the county morgue.

“Christie Craig will crack you up!”—New York Times Bestselling Author Kerrelyn Sparks

Photojournalist Shala Winters already had her hands full bringing tourism to this backward, podunk little town, but her job just got tougher. Pictures can say a thousand words, and one of Shala’s is screaming bloody murder. Now she has to entrust a macho, infuriating lawman with her life—but she’ll never trust him with her heart.Trusted or not, Sky Gomez isn’t about to let a killer get his hands on Shala’s Nikon—or any of …